Is CR "New Car Price Report" worth $14?

Thinking of buying a new Camry, '08 or '09. Has anyone here used
Consumer Reports New Car Price Report? They advise you on options and
prices but the report costs $14 for each model and each price year.

Sites cars.com, carsdirect.com, carmax.com provide a lot of free
guidance on options available and the price we should target.

In view of that Is CR's "New Car Price Report" worth $14?

Mike hunt <mikehunt22@lycos.com> wrote:

: There is an easier method. Why not do what major fleets do when they buy
: vehicles. Spec the exact vehicle you want to purchase, model, drive train
: options and color etc., then send it to the attention of the New Car Manager
: at several dealerships of the same brand, for a drive home price bid price.

Thanks.

: Then send it to several different dealerships of competitive brands to get
: the best total delivered price.

I am confused here. You mean if I am looking for a Toyota, also send my
specs to Honda dealers? How does that help?

: It has worked for me for years.

Again, appreciate your advice. Just trying to clarify.

Logistics: do you call the "new car manager", or use fax, email etc?
What gets most attention?

AlexZ wrote:

> Logistics: do you call the "new car manager", or use fax, email etc?
> What gets most attention?

If that's the goal, try walking in naked. :)

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

"Cathy F." <clfrclfr@adelphiadotdashdot.net> wrote in message
news:8vednQHnK-qtfdPV4p2dnAA@giganews.com...
> IMO, yes. Have used it twice in the past. Breaks all prices down into
> components, so can figure out any permutation of options w/ chosen model.
>
> Cathy

Toyota (like almost all manufacturers) has that facility on their website
for a customer to build a car with whatever options that are available,
either factory installed or dealer installed.

Some manufacturers (not sure about Toyota) even make sure that a particular
option package is available in your area based on zip code where you live
(different distributors have different option packages in some cases).

The manufacturer may also provide links to local dealers near where you
live, some of whom have their own website with a complete list of inventory
(with full specs on the cars) including those scheduled to be delivered but
not on the lot yet.

Welcome to the 21st century.

"Mike hunt" <mikehunt22@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:YM6dnTeaG66ZSdPVnZ2dnUVZ_r3inZ2d@ptd.net...
> There is an easier method. Why not do what major fleets do when they buy
> vehicles. Spec the exact vehicle you want to purchase, model, drive train
> options and color etc., then send it to the attention of the New Car
> Manager at several dealerships of the same brand, for a drive home price
> bid price. Then send it to several different dealerships of competitive
> brands to get the best total delivered price. It has worked for me for
> years.

Using a Credit Union or Costco buying service is just as easy (in fact it is
easier). The buying service requests go to the same fleet sales manager as
would a fax.

Keep in mind that Mike Hunt has only (and will only) buy American cars,
which is a somewhat different experience than buying a Toyota.

"Cathy F." <clfrclfr@adelphiadotdashdot.net> wrote in message
news:F_Wdnbz31d4Qu9LV4p2dnAA@giganews.com...
> My experiences - with Honda & Toyota dealerships - differs from your
> assertion. They reject it, I walk. I show up later (anywhere from a few
> days to a couple of weeks later) - they come down in price. But not
> enough, IMO. I walk again. I go back a thrid time & finally get what I
> had set out for from the beginning.
>
> Cathy

I am not disputing that. But I don't think they come down because you know
the dealer cost.